A young bride and groom happily examine a large selection of wedding gifts in an August, 1951 photograph. She is holding her bridal bouquet with one hand while admiring a silver serving dish. Her new husband is reading the accompanying card. Presents displayed include an iron, lamps, soup tureen, candlestick holders, doilies and linens, glasses and china. Virginia Dittman and Jack Wood were married in the Friends' church in front of 250 guests. She wore a gown of white slipper satin and a cap adorned with tiny pearls and orange blossoms during the candlelit ceremony. (TNT 9-16-51, p. D-10)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Dittman, Virginia; Wood, Jack; Gifts;

Family and friends pose with the new Mr. and Mrs. William Vermilyea in this sepia photograph taken after their wedding on September 15, 1951. The large group is pictured in front of the home belonging to the bride's mother. Rosemarie Lefor and William Vermilyea were married that morning at the Holy Rosary Church. The smiling couple is to the left in the picture with a small girl in front of them. A wedding breakfast was held at the Top of the Ocean and a reception in the evening at the bride's home. (TNT 9-23-51, D-5)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Lefor, Rosemarie; Vermilyea, William; Receptions--Tacoma; Group portraits--1950-1960;

Microsoft mogul Bill Gates' parents' wedding. William Henry Gates Jr. and Mary Maxwell married May 11, 1951 in Seattle. The photo shows the couple in an automobile leaving after the ceremony and reception. Both of Gates' parents can trace their Northwest roots back to the late 1800's. Bill Jr. grew up in Bremerton, the son of a prosperous local merchant, served as a Second Lieutenant in WW II and returned after the war to complete his undergraduate work at the University of Washington and enter law school. There he met Mary Maxwell, an energetic and high spirited athlete and sorority girl nicknamed "Giggles" by her friends. ("Bill Gates" by Adam Woog, "Bill Gates, Billionaire Computer Genius" by Joan D. Dickinson and "Smart Money, The Story of Bill Gates" by Aaron Boyd)

Weddings--Seattle--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Maxwell, Mary; Gates, William Henry; Wedding costume--1950-1960;

The wedding of Shirley Claire Fields and Jack Schneidermann in the Wedgewood Room at the Winthrop Hotel. A single ring ceremony was performed by Rabbi Bernard Roseberg under a canopy of white stock and greens flanked by candelabra. The bride, the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Hyman S. Fields, wore an ivory satin gown with a yoke of net and venice lace with a long train and an illusion veil. She carried a bouquet of orchids and stephanotis. The groom was from Coos Bay, Oregon and was the son of Mrs. David Schneidermann. The matron of honor was the recently married Mrs. Alvin L. Fields, sister-in-law of the bride, who wore the same bridal gown at her wedding. The Junior Bridesmaid was Dorothy Fields and the Bridesmaids were Helen Gold, Mona Kleiner and Nancy Brown. The Best Man was Harold Schneidermann. The bride was a graduate of Stadium High School and received her degree in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Washington. She was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi. The groom was a Business Administration graduate from the University of Oregon and a member of Sigma Alpha Mu. The Schneidermanns honeymooned in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Ca. (TNT 4/22/1951, pg. D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Fields, Shirley Claire; Schneidermann, Jack; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The flower girl and ring bearer impishly grin for the camera at the wedding of Helen Bruhn and Harley Lee Brown, Jr. The couple was married April 20, 1951 at Bethesda Baptist Church, with the ceremony followed by a reception in the Church's parlors. Miss Bruhn was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K.R. Bruhn of Enumclaw. The groom was the son of the H.L. Browns of Tacoma. The Browns honeymooned in California and then made their first home in Tacoma. (wedding picture of couple TNT 4/29/1951, pg D-6)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Joan Kohl is looking for just the right going away shoes for her upcoming wedding. These spectator pumps may be nothing new under ordinary circumstances but they take on priceless glamour as part of her trousseau. Joan and Lt. Clifford O. Johnson planned a home wedding to take place in 1951. (TNT, 5/9/1951, p.C-14)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Journalism--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kohl, Joan; Shoes; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Helen Greco is taking advantage of Penney's Towel Event to choose towels for her new home as she prepares for her upcoming wedding. A saleswoman helps by showing her several designs. Helen and Alfred McKechnie were to be married July 22, 1951. (TNT, 5/9/1951, p.C-11)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Journalism--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Greco, Helen; Towels; J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Sales personnel--Tacoma--1950-1960;

June Marie Johnson and Albert Herman Kosmin were married April 28, 1951, in the Little Church on the Prairie. The bride and groom stand at the altar with Donna and Doyle Nelson, twins, who were their flower girl and ring bearer. June Marie Johnson was the daughter of Harold G.and Ester A. Johnson. The bride attended Lincoln High School and the College of Puget Sound. Albert Herman Kosmin was the son of Mr. and Mrs. B.B. Kosmin of Philadelphia and he attended school in Germantown, Pennsylvania. (TNT, 5/6/1951, p.D-8)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Johnson, June--Marriage; Kosmin, Albert Herman; Nelson, Donna; Nelson, Doyle; Little Church on the Prairie (Lakewood);

Doreen Magnuson is picking her silverware pattern as she prepares for her wedding. Doreen and Sanford Shaub planned to be married June 16, 1951, in Immanuel Presbyterian Church. (TNT, 5/9/1951, p.D-5)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960;Journalism--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Magnuson, Doreen; Silverware;

On April 16, 1937, St. Paul Methodist Church held a double "Tom Thumb" wedding to raise funds for their missionary society. "Tom Thumb" weddings were held in the early 1900's as a social event; they were recreations of the 1863 wedding of P.T. Barnum's most famous attraction, the midget Charles Stratton (exhibited as Gen. Tom Thumb) and the equally tiny Lavinia Warren. Children doubled in the Tom Thumb pageants as the tiny couple. The St. Paul event starred, left to right, Eddie Goodenough as the minister, Curtis Killian as Tom Thumb, Shirley Clark as the bride Jennie June, Billy Goettling as the second groom Fred Finger and Barbara Ann Bowen as the other bride, Nellie May. The couples were four years old. All together, over 100 children, ranging in age from 4-11, took part in the event, impersonating the wedding party and its famous guests. (T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 8)

Children playing adults; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Goodenough, Edward; Killian, Curtis; Clark, Shirley; Goettling, William; Bowen, Barbara Ann;

ca. 1926. Picture of the bride and groom from the Wight wedding. (WSHS)

Weddings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Wight Wedding (WSHS)

Weddings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Brides--1920-1930;

Haley wedding. Frank Haley and his bride Nell peer out the window from the back seat of a two-door sedan after their wedding ceremony which took place in May of 1938.

Weddings--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Haley, Frank; Haley, Nell; Haley, Frank--Family; Automobiles--1930-1940;

Nancy Hewitt posed with her bridal party on her wedding day, June 28, 1939. The bride and eight attendants in long dresses held bouquets in front of a large window. The wedding was held at the Hewitt family home 615 No. E. St. Amy Lou Murray located second from right. (filed with Argentum)

Hewitt, Nancy--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940;

Allen - Brewster wedding. Lilly Catherine Allen and Benjamin J. Brewster were married at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Allen, on October 7, 1939. The new Mrs. Brewster is pictured above in her gown of white satin and fingertip veil. She wore a large corsage of gardenias and roses. White and yellow 'mums and blue Michaelmas daisies provided an attractive setting for the wedding which was officiated by Rev. L. Edgar Taber and attended by close friends and relatives. The groom, Benjamin Brewster, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brewster. Both bride and groom graduated from Lincoln High School. The Sonya Mae Apartments was the couple's first home. (T.Times 10-10-39, p. 9-article; TNT 10-10-39, p. 8-article; T.Times 10-28-39, p. 4-cropped photograph)

Weddings--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Allen, Lilly Catherine--Marriage;

Marion Roseann Burns, now Monroe, shows off her wedding ring to a group of men that possibly includes her husband, Thomas Harbine Monroe, and his groomsmen. Best man for the wedding was A.E. Betz, Jr. Ushers were Bernard D. Elliott, Robert Martin, Manson Backus II and John C. Bardsley, Jr. The couple was married November 24, 1940 at the Christ Episcopal Church in Tacoma. (T. Times 11/25/1940, pg. 7)

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burns, Marion Roseann; Wedding costume--1940-1950;

Wedding of Joyce Rosene and Robert Ellett at First Congregational Church. The bride and her attendants pose on the altar of the church on March 19, 1940. Joyce is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luther W. Rosene of Tacoma and Robert, the son of Senator and Mrs. A.O. Ellett of Salt Lake City, Utah. Standing with the bride (order not determined) are: maid of honor Elinor Perkins, matron of honor Mrs. Austin Gibbons, bridesmaids Lillian Morisse, Mrs. Ernest J. Estes, Betty Donahue and Frances Newell, junior bridesmaid Betty Lou Babnick and flower girl Dorothy Ellen Babnick. Bernice Morse and Eunice Washburn also participated in the wedding as candlelighters. The best man (not pictured) was Glen Rosene, brother of the bride. (T.Times 3-6-1940, p. 9-announcement of wedding party; T.Times 3-20-1940, p. 11-article on wedding only) (filed with Argentum)

Rosene, Joyce Elizabeth--Marriage; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950; Wedding attendants--Tacoma;

Female wedding guests scramble for the bouquet tossed by new bride Jean McDonald Jepson. Jean McDonald and William Jepson were married on August 17, 1941 at the Little Church on the Prairie. The wedding was followed by a reception at the Steilacoom Lake home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Weller, the bride's aunt and uncle, and the site of this free for all. The bride still appears to be attired in her modern wedding costume of ice green silk jersey dinner dress with elbow length gloves and matching turban. (T. Times 8/18/1941, pg.7)

Weddings--Lakewood--1940-1950; McDonald, Jean--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950;

Wedding of Miss Barbara Ball and Henry Hewitt, Jr., held May 24, 1941 at the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church, Seattle, followed by a reception at the Rainier Club. Four men in formal wear pictured at the wedding. The one only half seen on the right appears to be the father of the bride, R. Douglas Ball.

Weddings--Seattle--1940-1950;

Wedding of Miss Barbara Ball and Henry Hewitt, Jr., held May 24, 1941 at the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church, Seattle, followed by a reception at the Rainier Club. A woman believed to be Mrs. Henry Hewitt, second from right, sits with wedding guests..

Weddings--Seattle--1940-1950;

Wedding of Miss Barbara Ball and Henry Hewitt, Jr. The couple wed May 24, 1941 at the Mt. Baker Presbyterian Church in Seattle. The reception was held at the Rainier Club. The couple is photographed cutting their wedding cake. (T. Times 5/31/1941, pg. 5)

Weddings--Seattle--1940-1950; Ball, Barbara--Marriage; Hewitt, Henry; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Cakes;

The bride and groom pull away in their vehicle, pulling a string of tin cans and a "Just Married" sign. Georgann Leahey and Owen Thomas Gallagher were married at 10a.m. Tuesday August 12, 1941 at the Holy Cross Church, 10th & Verde. The wedding was followed by a reception at the family home, 3308 No. 33rd St. The couple will honeymoon in Canada and return to the new home that they are building on North Winifred St.

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Leahey, Georgann--Marriage;

June 6, 1942 wedding of Barbara Bartley and William J. Rankin at Ferguson Chapel, First Presbyterian Church. Ruth Anderson served as her best friend's Maid of Honor and was attired in pink. Marianne Bartley, sister of the bride, and Joizell Wilkenson were bridesmaids; one was dressed in yellow and the other in aqua. Dale Darling was Best Man, assisted by Clinton Nordquist and Mose Dieffenbach. (T. Times 6/12/1942, pg. 8-announcement)

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bartley, Barbara Joyce--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Rankin, William J.; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950;

Friends of the bridegroom provided the music for the June 6, 1942 wedding of Barbara Joyce Bartley and William J. (Bill) Rankin. Pictured are Bill Rhodenbough, organist, and Bob Kirkpatrick, soloist. The pair performed the classic "Oh Promise Me." (T. Times 6/12/1942, pg. 8)

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Rhodenbough, Bill; Kirkpatrick, Bob;

Doris Ristvet and Frank J. Malanca were married October 3, 1942 at Holy Rosary Church. They pose with their wedding party inside the church following the ceremony. Mrs. Bernard Bjorkman was matron of honor while Patricia Casper, Mrs. Ernest Manning and Genevieve Stemp served as bridesmaids for their friend. Bert Nigro was best man, and Bernard Bjorkman, Jr., Albert Malanca and Edward Stemp served as ushers.

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ristvet, Doris--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Malanca, Frank J.; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950; Wedding attendants--Tacoma; Holy Rosary Church (Tacoma);

Doris Ristvet and Frank J. Malanca were married October 3, 1042 at Holy Rosary Church. The reception was held at the church parish hall. The couple is pictured departing from what is most probably that building, while the remainder of the wedding party poses at the top of the stairs.

Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ristvet, Doris--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950;

Millsap and Nichol wedding at St. Ann's Catholic Church. Bride and groom greet guests as they leave the church following the wedding ceremony. The couple were wed on Friday evening, September 4, 1953.

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding clothing & dress--1950-1960; St. Ann's Catholic Church (Tacoma);

Stolder and Lemmer wedding. Groom with bride in arms at threshold of building in this late 1953 photograph. Building has high, Colonial embellished entry and transom over double entry doors. Metal railing and steps are covered with light snow and ice.

Weddings--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding clothing & dress--1950-1960;

A style show featuring a bride's trousseau occurred at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club during the time of the annual Delta Delta Delta Pansy Ring Tea in May, 1954. Models portraying the bridal party stand in front of the Ring of flowers. Both attendants and the bride carry wreaths of flowers, perhaps dahlias, to correspond with the circular theme. Mrs. Paul Whitcomb, the former Janet Erickson, models a wedding gown with flowing train. Mrs. Whitcomb was the former 1953 chapter president of Delta Delta Delta. Her groom in the photograph is Warren Hunt of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Mr. Hunt is a graduating senior from Puyallup, a business administration major, and former student body president. The bridal attendants were Barbara Schaller and Nancy Cranston. (TNT 5-2-54, D-4)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Whitcomb, Janet; Hunt, Warren; Schaller, Barbara; Cranston, Nancy;

Anderson and Niebergall wedding. Portrait of bride and groom beside two elaborate floral sprays. Mary Joan Anderson of Seattle wed Albert Durry Niebergall, formerly of Walla Walla, on June 13, 1953 in Puyallup. She is wearing a lace gown and carrying an orchid and statis (small white flowers) bouquet. The dark haired groom is in a white tuxedo. (TNT 6-25-1953, C-8)

Weddings--Puyallup--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Anderson, Mary Joan--Marriage; Niebergall, Albert Durry; Wedding clothing & dress--1950-1960; Flower arrangements;